Gov. Blagojevich announces expanded State Police website to help parents protect kids against violent offenders

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today unveiled two new features to the ISP's website which will provide communities with more information about convicted of sex offenses, child murderers, and violent offenders who have harmed children.  The enhancements are the result of legislation signed by the governor to protect communities from sexual predators.

 

SB 3016 and HB 4193 require the Illinois State Police to enhance mapping capabilities that show names and addresses of offenders on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry (SOR).  The legislation also adds the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry to the ISP home page.

 

"Technology can be a strong tool in our efforts to make communities safer.  By using the Internet to give parents easy access to information about potentially dangerous people living in their communities, they are in a better position to protect their children from harm," said Gov. Blagojevich. 

 

On July 3, 2006, Gov. Blagojevich signed SB 3016 which requires the ISP to add mapping capabilities on the Illinois Sex Offender Information website (http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor).  Individuals making an inquiry on the site can determine the residence of a registered sex offender through a map with a radius from 500 feet to five miles from their home or any other address. Locations of schools and city, county and state parks are also displayed.  Users can also obtain a photograph, if available, physical descriptions and information about the crime(s) for which the individual was convicted and is required to register.

 

"We are pleased to announce enhancements to our database in order to provide additional resources to protect our community," said Director Trent.  "The improvement gives law enforcement additional tools in providing public safety and ensures that these violent criminals are being monitored more closely."

 

Also now available through the Illinois State Police website is the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth (CMVOY) registry, accessible at http://www.isp.state.il.us/cmvo.  The CMVOY registry contains individuals convicted of specific crimes in which the victim was a minor, but the crime was not sexually motivated.  The crimes - as defined by HB 4193, signed by Governor Blagojevich on June 27, 2006 - include kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated unlawful restraint, and any attempt to commit any of these offenses when the victim is under 18 years of age and when the defendant is not a parent of the victim.  Other offenses include forcible detention, child abduction or murder when the victim was a person under 18 years of age and the defendant was at least 17 years of age. 

 

Similar to the Sex Offender Information website, the CMVOY reflects individuals who have been determined by the county state's attorney to qualify under the provisions of the new statute.  Until proper verification and notification is received by law enforcement from the state's attorney, these individuals will remain on the Sex Offender Information website.  All sex offenders who may be eligible for registration under the Child Murderer Violent Offender Youth Act have been notified of the process he or she must initiate to be transferred from the SOR to the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth registry.  These offenders must continue to register as sex offenders until the appropriate determination has been made and information has been received by law enforcement.

 

SB3016 was sponsored by Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) and HB4193 was sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago).